Lap-link.



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N D Emu V M m m M /m m Hlllllll llNlTllE acres PET hlfilil JUI-INBAPTIST IVIENAEID, 0F BENTON, ARKANSAS.

LAP-LINK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN B. MENARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Benton, in the county of Saline and State of Arkansas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Lap-Links, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

My invention relates to improvements in lap links and more particularlyone especially adapted for repairing a broken chain or uniting the endsof one or more chains.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensivedevice of this character composed of two similar sections which willhave an effective interlocking connection, which when engaged andfastened will produce an exceedingly strong and durable link and whichmay be readily separated and fastened together.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of thenovel construction, combination and arrangements of parts, hereinafterfully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of the improved linkshowing it in closed position. Figs; 2 and 3 are longitudinal andtransverse sectional views. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of thetwo similar members or sections forming the link.

While the link may be of any desired shape and dimensions andconstructed of any suitable material the embodiment illustrated is ofelongated circular or elliptical shape; and it is composed of twosimilarly shaped members or sections 1, 2. These two members are exactcounterparts and each has a closed side 3 and an opening 4 in itsopposite side. Each of said members has the opposite faces of its endscutaway or recessed to provide reduced U-shaped or hook-shaped ends 5,6, which ends of one member are adapted to overlap or register with thecorresponding ends of the other member and enter the recessed portionsof the latter, as will be readily understood on reference to Figs. 1 and2. By reducing the opposite faces of the ends 5, 6 inwardly inclined orangular shoulders 7 are formed on the closed side portion 3 of eachmember for engagement by the correspondingly beveled ends 8 of the hookportions 5, 6 on the coacting member, whereby an effective Specificationof Letters Patent.

Application filed August 31, 1909.

Patented Mar. 1910.

Serial No. 515,447.

interlocking connection is provided. Such connection it will be notedwill tend to maintain the two members in engaged position, andparticularly when any load or strain is placed upon the opposite ends ofthe link. By reducing the opposite side faces of the ends 5, 6, andbeveling 0r inclining the surfaces 7, 8, in an inward direction, it willbe seen that the two link members or sections when moved into theirinterlocked position are placed upon each other in overlapping relationwith their open sides turned inwardly, and they are then slid laterallyacross each other to bring the inclined surfaces 8 of one member intoengagement with the inclined surfaces on the other, whereupon the twomembers register with each other and the outer fiat side faces of thelink will be smooth and unbroken.

"While any suitable means may be provided for retaining the two membersor sections 1, 2 in interlocked engagement, the same is preferablyeffected by providing upon the inner face of the closed side 3 of eachof the members an inwardly or transversely extending arm 9 and passing asuitable fastening 10 through the overlapping inner portions of saidarms. It will be noted that the arms 9 when engaged form a cross bar toreinforce it and strengthen the link and prevent the kinking of thechain in which the improved link is included. The overlapping inner endsof the two arms or cross bar members 9 are recessed as at 11 upon theiropposite faces so that they fit into each other, and they are formedwith registering openings 12 to receive the fastening 10. The latter maybe of any desired form and construction but as illustrated consists of asplit pin or key, the ends of which after being passed through theopenings 12, are bent to retain the fastening in position.

Various changes in the form, proportion and arrangements of parts may bemade within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:-

The herein'described lap link comprising two separable members eachhaving a closed side, an open side and opposing hook-shaped ends, theopposite side faces of the ends of each member being recessed to receivethe remaining portions of the opposite ends of the co-acting member, therecessing of said side faces of the two members forming on the closedsides of the same the inwardly inclined shoulders 7, the extremities 8of the hookshaped ends of the members being correspondingly inclined toengage said shoulders, whereby the two members will be interlocked inoverlapping relation when the members are placed upon each other withtheir open sides turned inwardly and then slid laterally upon each otheruntil the closed side of one registers with the open side of the other,an inwardly extending arm formed integral with the inner edge of theunreduced central portion of the closed side of each member, said armshaving their inner ends correspondingly recessed on opposite sides tofitinto each other in overlapping relation, the overlapped recessedportions of said arms being formed with registering openings, and alocking pin removably arranged in said openings to unite 2c the arms andretain the members in interlocked position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses. JOHN BAPTIST MENARD. Witnesses:

G120. A. vZINN, JAs. T. BARRON.

